Shahzad case: Queries

THE arrest of Faisal Shahzad, an American citizen originally from Pakistan, in connection with the Times Square New York failed bomb incident has once again brought Pakistan into an unwanted limelight. Yet, a number of serious questions need to be raised, but the government does not seem interested. In fact, Interior Minister Malik has already declared Shahzad guilty as charged, despite the fact that in civilized societies one is always presumed innocent till proven guilty by a court of law. Mercifully, the Pakistan Army, at least, did issue a much needed statement that so far there was no substantive proof linking Shahzad to the militant stronghold in Waziristan. Even more absurd has been Foreign Minister Qureshis claim that Shahzads action was in retaliation to the US drone attacks. Of course, it is worthwhile to remind the US of the damage drone attacks are doing in terms of festering further extremism, but how can Qureshi know what motivated Shahzad? - and how can he simply accept Shahzads guilt, which his statement does There are other serious issues that also need to be highlighted. For instance, why would Shahzad leave such a trail of evidence behind? Add to this his almost-immediate confession including to bomb training in Waziristan, and one cannot help but be a trifle perplexed at least. Second, while the media continues to focus on his Pakistani ties, no one is asking why a young student who went to get educated in the US chose to commit himself to alleged terrorism? What is there within US and European societies that is marginalising an increasing number of their Muslim citizens, and driving some of them to violent extremism? Third, and perhaps most important from our point of view is the thread that may connect Shahzad and the alleged Times Square New York City incident, to the murder of Khalid Khawaja, to the US pressure on the Pakistan Army to commence an all-out operation in North Waziristan, depite its continuing reluctance. Already, it is being given out that Pakistan has agreed to an increase in US drone attacks - which will further fuel the extremist fire. The US has also imposed on Pakistan the need for further cooperation on terrorism - which for the US basically means a way of gaining further access into Pakistans security and intelligence apparatus. A final crucial point: at the end of the day we should not forget that Shahzad is an American citizen with a Pakistani family and is being accused of a Pakistan connection. So it is incumbent on the Pakistan government to become party to the investigations - just as the FBI has become in the Sargodha case of the five arrested Americans. Of course, the Pakistani states record on this count is shameful so far: no legal or any other support was or is being extended to either Kasab or Dr Aafia - both Pakistani citizens.